At least nine hummingbirds visit my two feeders daily. There may be more; no way to be sure. The females look so much alike, there could be more coming than I realize. I’ve seen seven at one time and knew of two (specific characterisitcs) that weren’t there. My favorites? A male with a very dark head — black or possibly dark green — white collar, and grey body. I suspect he’s a Black-chinned Hummingbird. The other is probably a Rufous – rufous crown, tail, and sides, with a white breast.
These tiny birds are among seventeen species of hummingbirds that visit our state while on their migration trail, according to one blog I read. They are fascinating, to say the least!
Up and feeding shortly after the sun warms the morning, the largest number seem to visit around 8:30 or 9 in the morning and again in mid-afternoon, although there’s rarely a time you won’t see one or two whirring about the patio area. The Black-chinned one comes into our yard from the south, while many others seem to find refuge in the nearby pear tree. The Rufous doesn’t seem as large as some of the others, but holds his own…a little scrapper!
A large variety of feeders can be found in stores. Mine are both quite simple with four feeding holes. The food is simple to prepare: one part sugar to four parts water. The mixture should be boiled to get rid of chlorine and deter the growth of mold (see the “how to enjoy hummingbirds” link below). I don’t use any special boxed mix, and lack of the red color you see in so many feeders doesn’t seem to discourage visitors to my feeders, since both receptacles are usually filled each morning and empty by dusk!
If you’re interested in inviting a few to your yard, you can find more information on the following blogs and sites.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/269490/hummingbirds_in_new_mexico.html?cat=8
http://www.hummingbirds.net/index.html
http://howtoenjoyhummingbirds.com/hummingbird%20food%20recipe.htm
